secretary of state clinton has made empowering women and important part of her diplomatic priorities and i support her efforts. for the united states who do not need to implement additional legislation in order to be in full compliance with the convention. laws such as the civil rights act, title ix strength in the u.s. position in the convention and our leadership could lead to other countries adopting similar protections for disabled women. most importantly i'm reminded of the veterans who have returned from the wars in iraq and afghanistan. the brave veterans who served in all the places we've asked them to go, who advance the interest and ideals of the united states. we owe them a debt for their service. any return with severe burns, some requiring lifetime care. i would like to just read a statement from one of the veterans that appeared in front of the foreign relations committee, and disabled marine veteran john kerry. this is what he said. and i quote here in 1968 i arrived in the non-assigned to first battalion 27th marines have said infantry platoon commander. five months l